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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 2:59pm | IP Logged
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If you have a chance read this article by David Sobel "The Problem with Environmental Education". I haven't had the pleasure of reading his books but I know some of you have. I read the article this weekend and just kept thinking how much CM philosophy was within it.
What do think? So many great points ; )
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Jenny
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Grace in Loving Chaos
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 4:44pm | IP Logged
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What an excellent article! I've never read his books, either, but I loved an essay he wrote about Nature Deficit Disorder back when his first book came out.
I was just trying to share thoughts similar to these with an elderly neighbor who was lamenting about global warming. I was trying to explain that I thought that it had, imo, become a big distraction in environmentalism from the more concrete aspects that are measurable and addressable as humans and individuals. I couldn't quite articulate it then, and I can't quite do it now either, but what he says about "environmental education" not really producing environmentalists rings true to me. We need to foster a relationship with creation if we want people who will exercise the virtue of stewardship regarding nature.
I'm not quite sure what I think about "global warming", and I'm not trying to taint this discussion by bringing in something that that is politically charged. My point is really that my personal choices often have a more significant impact on reducing my family's "carbon footprint" than some who DO believe in it wholeheartedly and actually think in those terms, so really, those political beliefs are rather superfluous when it comes down to taking concrete action. It seems to be based in something different--as the article suggests.
Gotta run, just thinking out loud 
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Lindsay
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Chris V
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 5:36pm | IP Logged
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Excellent article!
I was glad to read that hunting was included as a valued childhood experience. My husband is an avid outdoor sportsman (archery) and has hunted since childhood. He is one of the most highly conservative stewards of our land that I know of and donates his own time for conservative efforts through organizations like Ducks Unlimited, RMEF, and our own local groups that encouraged environmental responsibility (without taking away from experiencing the outdoors).
More to the CM style - I agree. The article brought to mind a time when me and my girls and a friend with her kids were taking a leisurely stroll through a avian preserve. My friend's boy was running ahead of us and every once in a while would stop, go off the trail, pick up a rock, a leaf, a stick and examine it, ask about it, then move on. My daughter said to my friend "you know that he's getting himself all dirty, right?" and she said "yes, it's wonderful don't you think?". 
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 6:39pm | IP Logged
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I didn't get to finish the article but I think a lot of the problem stems from the "all or nothing" mentality we see so much. A lack of balance. Filling in the "God-hole" in our lives with something other than God - See this discussion relating it to Gatherings with Food.
It's the whole continuum of abuse to complete preservation. Do we only preserve it? Can't use it at all, that all change that happens is bad (and all our fault of course. Bad humans!) Or do we simply abuse it and use it up. Or do we CONSERVE IT.. this is where stewardship comes in. Using it but not abusing it. But it's not black and white enough for many people. We have to save the planet so our kids will have it.. and we do that by not letting our kids touch it 
And this is taken to extremes. In many areas. If it's not the environment it's food or it's exercise or it's clothing. etc etc
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JennGM
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 6:50pm | IP Logged
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What a great article! I'll have look up his books, they look really interesting.
An overlapping commentary I read last week by Jeff Mirus on The Moral Downside of Climate Change I highly recommend. He really puts his finger on what is wrong about making environmentalism a moral issue.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 9:31pm | IP Logged
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I enjoyed the message of the need to connect physically with nature in order to care/love it. My dh loves nature in a way that some people don't understand. He needs to go backpacking and camping and hiking and ... but he is not an environmentalist; just a nature lover/enthusiast.
My kids are loving the outdoors because they can experience it. They've used all their senses; even the feeling of pain . I don't think they would appreciate it any other way.
IMO, this connection has created a yearning and appreciation for more learning in each of them (at the appropriate level of course) of the wonderful world God has created. In my older children this is translating into learning the sciences with more interest and respect for God's world.
I like the word stewardship in this context!! 
I'm off to check your links ladies.
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Jenny
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JennGM
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| Posted: Aug 22 2012 at 11:57am | IP Logged
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I've been thinking about this over the week, Jenny, specially your question about how it fits in the CM approach.
I was thinking about how Charlotte Mason approach was really nurturing naturalists. How many of the books on being a naturalist has collecting as part of the work? I'm thinking of Gerald Durrell's book in particular.
I just checked and my library has no books by Sobel. Boohoo! I hope they have been written in the past two years so I can request they carry them.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: Aug 22 2012 at 1:05pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
I've been thinking about this over the week, Jenny, specially your question about how it fits in the CM approach.
I was thinking about how Charlotte Mason approach was really nurturing naturalists. How many of the books on being a naturalist has collecting as part of the work? I'm thinking of Gerald Durrell's book in particular.
I just checked and my library has no books by Sobel. Boohoo! I hope they have been written in the past two years so I can request they carry them. |
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Yes, exactly. I enjoyed reading the naturalist he quotes. Especially, the collecting of little critters. My 5 yo knows exactly how to catch lizards, bees, crickets in the dark  and butterflies without a net. He's provided many of our nature journal specimens  My mom thinks he has a gift, I just think he is one of my biggest naturalist so far because he can't function unless he has spent time outdoors.
I've added Durrell to my author list since I've seen the name several times now. Can't wait to read one his books soon.
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Jenny
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Grace in Loving Chaos
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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: Aug 29 2012 at 10:40am | IP Logged
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Had to come back and add Jenn's two morning posts to this thread:
Programs Ugh and
"Look, Don't Touch" I love how you've added the CM quotes. I kept thinking Volume 1 and 3 when I read this article. The whole idea of nature study leading into science is just such a natural transition IMO
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Blessings,
Jenny
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Grace in Loving Chaos
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JennGM
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| Posted: Aug 29 2012 at 1:00pm | IP Logged
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Grace&Chaos wrote:
Had to come back and add Jenn's two morning posts to this thread:
Programs Ugh and
"Look, Don't Touch" I love how you've added the CM quotes. I kept thinking Volume 1 and 3 when I read this article. The whole idea of nature study leading into science is just such a natural transition IMO |
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Thanks, Jenny. I really appreciate you posting this -- I have been pondering it for a long time.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: "Look, Don't Touch" by David Sobel
